Pregnancy Outcomes in Double Stimulation versus Two Consecutive Mild Stimulations for IVF in Poor Ovarian Responders.

To compare pregnancy outcomes between double stimulation (DouStim) and two consecutive mild stimulations in poor ovarian responders, this study retrospectively analyzed 281 patients diagnosed as having poor ovarian response (POR) who underwent oocytes retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from January 2018 to December 2020. They were divided into two groups: the DouStim group (n = 89) and the two consecutive mild stimulations group (n = 192). The results illustrated that there were no significant differences in the number of oocytes and 2PNs between the two groups.

In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Analysis Identifies Endometrial Circadian Clock Genes in Recurrent Implantation Failure.

Context: Previous work has demonstrated the role of the circadian clock in ovarian steroid hormone synthesis and attributed embryo implantation failure associated with arrhythmic circadian clock genes to insufficient ovarian-derived progesterone synthesis. Research on expression of core circadian clock genes in the endometrium itself and possible roles in compromised endometrial receptivity and recurrent implantation failure (RIF) are limited.

Objective: We aimed to assess the core circadian clock gene profiling in human endometrium across the menstrual cycle and the possible gene interaction networks in the endometrial receptivity of window of implantation (WOI) as well as RIF.

Decreased ANGPTL4 impairs endometrial angiogenesis during peri-implantation period in patients with recurrent implantation failure.

Insufficient endometrial angiogenesis during peri-implantation impairs endometrial receptivity (ER), which contributes to recurrent implantation failure (RIF) during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) acts as a multifunctional secretory protein and is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism and angiogenesis in various tissues including the endometrium. Herein, we found decreased ANGPTL4 expression in endometrial tissue and serum during peri-implantation period in 18 RIF-affected women with elevated uterine arterial impedance (UAI) compared with the pregnancy controls.

Dysfunction of B-cell lymphoma 2/adenovirus E1B 19KD interacting protein 3 in decidua is involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Objectives: Abnormal decidualization is a contributing factor for the development of preeclampsia. BCL-2/adenovirus E1B 19KD interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) has been identified as an apoptosis regulator in many tumors. Furthermore, our previous studies showed that both BNIP3 and cleaved-caspase 3 were significantly decreased in the decidual tissue of preeclampsia.

Dysregulation of collagen expression in peri-implantation endometrium of women with high ovarian response.

Aim: To analyze the effects of high ovarian response on endometrial collagen synthesis and related gene expression during the peri-implantation period in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

Methods: Peripheral blood and endometrial biopsies were obtained from infertile women on day 6 after oocytes retrieval or ovulation in 16 stimulated cycles (SC) and 16 natural cycles (NC) respectively. Serum estrogen (E ), progesterone (P ), histological staging, endometrial collagen, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2, 9) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP1, 3) were assayed.

MiRNA-335-5p negatively regulates granulosa cell proliferation via SGK3 in PCOS.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a major cause of infertility in women of reproductive age. However, its exact etiology remains unknown. In this study, we sequenced miRNAs in human follicular fluid and identified 16 downregulated and 3 upregulated miRNAs in PCOS group compared with non-PCOS group.

LEPR gene polymorphism and plasma soluble leptin receptor levels are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in Han Chinese women.

Aim: To investigate the association of LEPR polymorphisms and plasma leptin and soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R) levels with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Chinese women.

Patients & Methods: LEPR Lys109Arg (rs1137100) and Gln223Arg (rs1137101) polymorphisms of PCOS patients and the controls were genotyped. Plasma leptin and sOB-R levels of two groups were measured.

Long non-coding RNA GAS5 controls human embryonic stem cell self-renewal by maintaining NODAL signalling.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known players in the regulatory circuitry of the self-renewal in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). However, most hESC-specific lncRNAs remain uncharacterized. Here we demonstrate that growth-arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5), a known tumour suppressor and growth arrest-related lncRNA, is highly expressed and directly regulated by pluripotency factors OCT4 and SOX2 in hESCs.

Correction: Decreased Sperm Motility Retarded ICSI Fertilization Rate in Severe Oligozoospermia but Good-Quality Embryo Transfer Had Achieved the Prospective Clinical Outcomes.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Decreased Sperm Motility Retarded ICSI Fertilization Rate in Severe Oligozoospermia but Good-Quality Embryo Transfer Had Achieved the Prospective Clinical Outcomes.

Introduction: Spermatozoa motility is the critical parameter to affect the treatment outcomes during assisted reproductive technologies (ART), but its reproductive capability remains a little informed in condition of severe male factor infertility. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effects of reduced sperm motility on the embryological and clinical outcomes in intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment of severe oligozoospermia.

Patients And Methods: 966 cycles (812 couples) of severe oligozoospermia diagnosed by spermatozoa count ≤ 5 × 106/mL and motile spermatozoa ≤ 2 × 106/mL were divided into four groups in according to the number of motile spermatozoa in one ejaculate on the day of oocyte retrieval (Group B-E).

Effect of high ovarian response on the expression of endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) in peri-implantation endometrium in IVF women.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ovarian stimulation on the expression of EG-VEGF mRNA and protein in peri-implantation endometrium in women undergoing IVF and its relation with endometrial receptivity (ER).

Design: Prospective laboratory study.

Setting: University hospital.

Hysteroscopy prior to repeat embryo transfer may improve pregnancy outcomes for asymptomatic women with repeated implantation failure.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hysteroscopy (HS) in detecting intrauterine abnormalities prior to repeat embryo transfer and improving pregnancy outcomes in asymptomatic women with repeated implantation failure (RIF).

Material And Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 672 asymptomatic RIF women from a Chinese university hospital. Pregnancy outcomes between the HS (subdivided into patients with and without intrauterine abnormalities) and non-HS groups were compared.

ICSI treatment of severe male infertility can achieve prospective embryo quality compared with IVF of fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes.

Azoospermia, cryptozoospermia and necrospermia can markedly decrease the ability of males to achieve pregnancy in fertile females. However, patients with these severe conditions still have the option to be treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to become biological fathers. This study analyzed the fertilization ability and the developmental viabilities of the derived embryos after ICSI treatment of the sperm from these patients compared with in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment of the proven-fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes as a control.

The regulation network and network motif analysis in ovarian cancer.

Objective: Several gene alterations have been identified associated with ovarian cancer (OC) development. However, how these genetic elements are coordinated in transcription network during OC initiation and progression is poorly understood. Thus, the objective of this study was to interpret the transcription regulation network of OC.

Endocrine and inflammatory factors and endometriosis-associated infertility in assisted reproduction techniques.

Purpose: Our research aimed to evaluate the effect of endometriosis on folliculogenesis and pregnancy, and to assess the involvement of inflammatory factors (IL1b, PGE2, PGF2α, and TGFβ2) in follicular fluid.

Methods: A total of 65 follicular fluid aspirates were collected. Concentrations of inflammatory factors (IL1b, PGE2, PGF2α, and TGFβ2) and steroid hormones (E2, progesterone, FSH, and LH) within follicular fluid as well as serum E2 and LH concentrations were measured.

Effects of EG-VEGF, VEGF and TGF-β1 on pregnancy outcome in patients undergoing IVF-ET treatment.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation of endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) with the corresponding reproductive outcome in patients who received in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods: Sixty-seven women undergoing IVF-ET at a university tertiary hospital were recruited for a prospective study. Concentrations of EG-VEGF, VEGF and TGF-β1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in follicular fluid (FF) collected during oocyte retrieval (OR) and in serum collected 2 days after OR.

Endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor concentrations in follicular fluid and serum may predict ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Objective: To assess the predictive value of endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) and serum for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Design: Retrospective, case-control study.

Setting: University hospital, IVF center.